Jeff Bezos’ parents just gave $186 million to the Aspen Institute

Jeff Bezos is perhaps the most famous member of his family, but his parents also make waves on occasion.

One example: Mike and Jackie Bezos donated $185.7 million to the Aspen Institute this week, Bloomberg reported Wednesday. The money will be used to create the Center for Rising Generations, which will work for civic engagement and leadership development for young people. The donation is the largest ever given to the Aspen Institute and the largest endowment from the Bezos Family Foundation to date.

“My wife Jackie and I are always inspired by the bright ideas and hope young people bring to our collective future,” Mike Bezos said in a statement. “Supporting the leadership, passion and creativity of young minds to enact change today has been at the heart of the Foundation, and for two decades we have worked side by side with the Aspen Institute to support new programs and platforms for young people to put their education in action… We are confident that the Generations Center will exponentially expand the opportunities for our rising generations, bringing their voices to the fore to shape our world for the better.”

The elder Bezos have become known for their philanthropic efforts over the years. In 2022, the couple personally donated $710.5 million to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. This impressive gift allowed Jackie and Mike to become the top five American donors in 2022. In the same year, they donated Amazon shares worth $168 million at today’s prices, Bloomberg noted.

Mike and Jackie’s wealth comes largely from their early investment in their son’s businesses: In 1995, they gave Jeff just $245,573 to help Amazon, Bloomberg wrote. It’s unclear how much stock they still have in the company, but they’ve been able to donate massive amounts to several organizations in recent years. Since the Bezos Family Foundation was created in 2000, the philanthropic organization has awarded approximately 766 grants, many of them to groups that support early learning and adolescence.

Jeff Bezos apparently picked up some philanthropic tendencies from his parents as well. The world’s second-richest man, worth $200 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, has pledged to give most of his wealth to charity while he’s alive. Jackie and Mike certainly set a good example for this kind of dedication.